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| AFSPA to go during my tenure : CM | | Zero tolerance against Rights’ violation my government’s commitment |  Jammu, March 28 (Scoop News) - Dispelling the impression created regarding the acceptance of National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) by the Jammu and Kashmir Government, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Wednesday made it clear that his government has categorically told the Centre that the operation under NCTC in the State would not be allowed without taking the State Government into confidence and making J&K Police part of any operational action.
In his 135 minute reply to the discussion on the grants of the departments under his charge, the Chief Minster told the Legislative Assembly that the NCTC has three main functions of gathering Intelligence, Analysing it and Operation on ground.
“So far as gathering of intelligence and analyses is concerned it is being done by Centre Government through multi intelligence agencies at present and if it wants to do it through NCTC we have no objection but so far as the operation is concern it will not be allowed unless the State Government is taken into confidence and J&K Police made part of the operation”, he elaborated and made it clear that the State Government has conveyed the same to the Centre.
The Chief Minister said that politics should not be brought into the issues of National interests and he is not habitual of deriving politics mileage out of such issues. “Since you have raised this issue and tried to politicise it, as such, I want to make the position of the State Government clear on this count”, he told the main opposition party (PDP) leadership.
Reiterating his vow to continue endeavours for gradual revocation of AFSPA from the areas where militancy has ended and the operation of Army is no more, the Chief Minister said that the time for revocation of laws imposed at the onset of militancy in the State has come as the situation has gradually improved and such laws are not required in some areas where there is no militancy and army operation.
“We are in regular interaction with the Centre in this regard and I am hopeful that AFSPA will go gradually from the areas where there is no militancy”, he added and said that he advocated gradual revocation of AFSPA since 2009 and he would continue to do so to achieve the goal. “Sometimes we have to move a step backward to accelerate the forward movement”, he said.
Stressing on sharing the recommendations of Interlocutors Report with public, the Chief Minister asked the Centre Government to implement the report to the degree it is possible so that the process of political addressing of political issues in a political manner and through dialogue is taken to the logical end.
Omar Abdullah said that the improvement in the peace situation has helped to carry forward development, revive tourism and hold panchayat elections successfully. He mentioned the support of the people in the endeavours of the government for restoring peace and tranquility. “When we were talking of our priority to create peaceful summer in Kashmir in 2011 in this House last year, our main opposition party leadership (PDP) was telling us to wait for June predicting continuous summer unrest. Thank God and the people of the State that we were able to give a peaceful year which transformed the development scenario across the State”, he said.
The Chief Minister said that the peaceful situation has not only helped to reach out all areas on development front but also to reduce the footprints of security forces in the State. “We have de-inducted three CRPF companies, removed 39 bunkers and cleared 52 buildings from the occupation of the security forces during the last year”, he said elaborating that 15 more bunkers have been indentified for removing during the next year.
The Chief Minister also reaffirmed his firm commitment to zero tolerance and expressed satisfaction that the human rights situation in the State has significantly improved. “This is obvious by the fact that member in the House did not talked about this issue as they used to mention it vociferously in the past”, he substantiated his statement with facts and figures and said that during the last year only five incidents of rights violation have been reported in the State.
On amnesty to the stone pelters involved in 2010 stone pelting, Omar Abdullah said that over 2700 persons have been shortlisted for granting the amnesty. He said revocation of FIRs and withdrawing cases from courts take some time but we are working on the issue on fast track.
Omar Abdullah said that Public-Police rapport and regular conferencing is important to maintain law and order and avoid incidents of rights violation. “This process should be appreciated by all without bringing politics in it”, he told the main opposition asking them to encourage this positive police-friendly trend instead of criticising it. “What is wrong if there is cordial relation between the public and the police”, he questioned the leader of the main opposition party (PDP) who criticised the Public-Police interaction meets in her speech made in the House yesterday.
Omar Abdullah that he has asked the Home Department to prepare the draft J&K Police Act for discussion in the Cabinet and bringing before the House for consideration and passing. “I expect the placing of this Act before the House in its next sitting at Srinagar”, he said.
The Chief Minister said that the Rehabilitation Policy introduced for the return of the youth from LoC who have not resorted to gun, does not suit the Neighbour, as such, hurdles are being created in the return of the youth from LoC. “We have received over 1000 applications in this regard and 67 have been processed for sanctioning while rest are at various stages of process”, he added.
On Passport issue, Omar Abdullah said that his government has revoked the erstwhile order under which the relatives of the militants had been put in a blacklist. “No blacklist exists now. We have given categorical orders that the relatives of the militants who have no connection with militancy should not be debarred for giving clearance for Passport”, he said adding that the process of clearance would be made more smooth by removing other conditions put in the clearance process of Passports for the relatives of militants.
Omar Abdullah said that direct recruitment by Police Department has been introduced under a Cabinet decision to give proper representation to the youth of under-represented areas. “In order to cover difficult and remote areas, where there is very little opportunity for jobs for youth, under this scheme, I have asked the Home Department to prepare a proposal for the Cabinet sanction”, he said adding that the increase in the honorarium of SPO from Rs. 3000 to Rs. 5000 has been sent to Centre Government for sanctioning.
On the development of power, the Chief Minister said that opposition (PDP) should have appreciated the initiative of the coalition government for retrieving power projects from NHPC, but it is instead trying to create false impression about the good intensions of the government in this regard and in regard of the launch of joint ventures with NHPC and other power companies in the State. “When the maintenance for Baglihar Power Project was given to the NHPC for two years to train the State Engineers for capacity building and running and maintaining the power house, the opposition at that time also create unnecessary hype”, he said adding that the project has now been received back after the period of two years and is run by State Power Development Corporation.
“Similar negative hype was created by the main opposition party (PDP) regarding the conversion of J&K Bank overdrafts mechanism into Ways and Means initiative but this also proved unfounded and the Bank has shown significant profit under the new regime”, he maintained.
The Chief Minister said that in order to reduce the transmission and distribution losses and upgrade the supply of electricity to the consumers, the government is working on unbundling of T&D system in the State to transform it into a corporation, distribution and trading companies. He said that 20 power projects have been launched in the State to generate over 7000 MWs of power in near future. He said 16000 MWs of power have been identified and projects would be launched accordingly.
On Planning and Development, the Chief Minister said that Planning cannot be a static process. “It is a dynamic and changing one which has to keep pace with the changing scenario”, he said rejecting the impression created by the main opposition party (PDP) regarding the grant of additionalities to the districts. He said no politics is done on the grant of additionalities and substantiated his statement by giving the facts and figures in this regard. He citied the districts mainly represented by the opposition party which have received highest amount of additionalities during the last three years.
The Chief Minister said that despite the heavy burden due to increase in the salary of employees from over Rs. 4500 crores to about Rs. 11000 crores by the implementation of 6th Pay Commission the coalition government has maintained the growth and registered Rs. 1300 crore addition in the State’s financial resources. “We are highly thankful to the Centre Government for providing liberal financial support to the State to meet all challenges and carry forward the development agenda smoothly”, he said.
Omar Abdullah said that the road communication has been flagged as focused area which is obvious by providing Rs. 865 crores allocation to R&B sector in the last year’s budget. He said that those who do not want to see the works on ground will not see the progress. He said that 2741 kilometres of roads have been macadamized last year while 2493 kilometres have been upgraded, besides construction of 26 new roads and 18 bridges.
The Chief Minister said under PMGSY 178 remote villages and hamlets have been connected with roads adding that the annual expenditure under PMGSY has increased from Rs. 5 crores to Rs. 300 crores last year which is likely to go to Rs. 500 crores to next year. He said over Rs. 1700 crores have been spent on various road projects under NABARD out of the same amount released for these schemes which marks 100 percent utilization. He said 93 projects covering all constituencies have been sent to the Centre for approval besides 10 projects recommended by District Development Boards.
Omar Abdullah said that work on Srinagar and Jammu flyovers involving over Rs. 350 crores will start within next 3-4 months. He said that traffic lights in the two cities are being installed while a comprehensive traffic mobility project is in the offing.
The Chief Minister said that his government is working on strengthening both single line administration and panchayat system in the State and a comprehensive strategy for the same is under formulation. He also announced constitution of State Planning and Development Commission adding that the recommendations of State Finance Commission are also being implemented. He said the roadmap for the same is being prepared by a high level Committee headed by the Chief Secretary.
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